Summary
Overview
Professor Hester Parr, a human geography professor at the University of Glasgow, discusses her research on seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and the relationship between sunlight, weather, and mental health. The conversation explores how people experience winter depression, cultural attitudes toward seasons, and creative approaches to managing SAD beyond traditional light therapy. The research emphasizes listening to lived experiences and reframing one's relationship with winter through activities like writing letters to the season and using creative observation tools.
The Genesis of SAD Research in Glasgow
Professor Parr shares how her move from sunny Dundee to rainy Glasgow sparked her interest in seasonal affective disorder research. The dramatic difference in weather patterns between Scotland's east and west coasts had a profound impact on her mood, leading a colleague to suggest she channel her complaints into academic research. This personal experience became the foundation for a project focusing on lived experiences rather than just clinical data.
- Moving from Dundee's bright winters to Glasgow's rainy climate significantly affected Parr's mood
- A colleague suggested turning her weather-related complaints into a research project
- The project was designed to foreground lived experience through in-depth interviews, surveys, and immersive workshops
" I remember these beautiful, bright winters, very crisp and cold, lots of big blue sky. And I moved to a University of Glasgow. And although it's a fantastic university, the climate in Glasgow really struck me as particularly difficult, actually. "
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